Use Coconut Oil for the Hair – 8 Ways to Use It and Get Amazing Results

Coconuts are harvested and processed for their desired end-products, and one of them is their oil. It has many health benefits, and it’s a very popular hair product. I myself use it, and I can definitely tell you that if you use coconut oil for the hair, you would get splendid results. It helps to improve its overall health, and there are many ways it could be utilized.

To Clean Your Scalp

Many people were probably not aware that coconut oil plays a huge role in getting rid of fungal infections on the scalp. A very common one is ringworm. This infection could prove stubborn to eliminate, especially since it spreads to other parts of your skin. Well, if you’ve struggled with this problem, I’m very pleased to let you know that you don’t have to fret anymore.

Now, why does it work? I know a lot of you don’t care why or how it works, as long as you know it DOES work. Well, I’ll still tell you why anyway:) It contains caprylic acid which is a fatty acid, and is very effective against fungal infections. The other two fatty acids in coconut oil are lauric and capric acids. These two also help to fight against bacteria and other fungal infections.

How to use it on your scalp

1. Measure about 3 tbsp of coconut oil in a bowl. You can put it in a microwave to melt it.

2. Massage your scalp with it for about 10 minutes. You want to make sure that your entire scalp gets this lovely treatment:)

3. Leave it on for about 30 minutes, then wash with a shampoo.

How often you should do this

For straight or wavy hair- daily or 3 times a week

For very coily and kinky hair- once or twice a week

For Hair Growth

If you want to get your hair growing faster than it already does, coconut oil is just one of the many products that can help you achieve this. However, you would want to complement the external use of coconut oil with a healthy diet, in order for you to have the best results.

The reason coconut oil works, is that it’s very rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Antioxidants get rid of free radicals, which are harmful to one’s health and could ultimately lead to hair damage. People that use olive oil to cook and combine it with fruits and vegetables, would have all their antioxidants covered:) Those that apply it externally would also reap this benefit.

How to use it for hair growth

1. Melt 3 tbsp of coconut oil and apply it on your scalp. You can add some more, if you have really thick hair. However, be careful not to add so much, so your hair isn’t too greasy.
2. Gently massage your scalp for about 15 minutes. This ensures that the oil gets to your hair follicles. By massaging the scalp, you’re promoting circulation, and this in turn, promotes hair growth. Put the remaining oil on your hair if there’s any left.

3. Let your hair stay for a couple of hours, or you can leave it overnight. Wash your hair with a shampoo after this.

How often you should do this

Do so once a week. Doing this too often could cause your pores to clog, which could have adverse effects on your hair.

To Prevent Damage By The Sun

Hair loss and hair growth are connected in the sense that for you to promote hair growth, you must prevent hair loss and hair damage. Coconut oil prevents the sun from damaging your hair, and therefore leaves it protected and healthy. Some people forget that your scalp could get sunburned, so if you spend a lot of time in the sun, let coconut oil be your best friend.

It works as a sunscreen because it has SPF properties. This means that it blocks the UV rays from the sun, to a certain degree. This therefore indicates that apart from using it on your hair and scalp, you could also use it on your skin. Coconut oil blocks a certain amount of UV radiation, but it’s best for you to not spend so much time in the sun.

How to use it as a sunscreen

1. Melt 1 tbsp of coconut oil, and apply on your scalp. Use more if you’ll be spending more time out in the sun.

2. Massage your scalp with it for about 5 minutes, and put the rest on your hair.

How often you should do this

Daily. It’s best to put it on every day, just so your scalp and hair stay protected for the duration of your time outside.

As a Shampoo

Using coconut oil as a shampoo is one sure way to make your hair healthier, and to definitely make it grow faster. You can make your own shampoo by combining it with popular hair nourishing products like aloe vera, honey, jojoba oil, and some of your favourite essential oils to your taste.

What you need

1 cup of melted coconut oil

1 cup of aloe vera gel

1 tbsp of honey

2 cups of warm water

1 tsp of essential oil of your choice

Directions

1. Add the honey to the warm water and stir, until you get an even consistency.

2. Wash by massaging your scalp with the shampoo, using the tip of your fingers. Do not use your nails to scrub your hair, as this could cause irritations.

3. Repeat the process a few more times, then rinse thoroughly.

How often you should do this

for straight or wavy hair: twice a week

for very coily and kinky hair: once a week

As a Conditioner

Ever wondered why many people recommend coconut oil as a conditioner? Or maybe nobody around you knows this just yet, but it’s very effective as one. One reason is that it’s chemical free, as long as you get the virgin one. If you’re not ready to use hair conditioners which have chemicals in them, it is a perfect conditioner because it’s able to deeply penetrate the hair, making it very soft, thicker, and therefore, healthier.

It can be used as either a leave-in conditioner, or a deep conditioner. For those of you who may not know the difference, using coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner means that it’s the last thing you put on your hair and leave it to dry. When you use it as a deep conditioner, you leave it on your hair for maybe hours, and then wash it off after that.

How to use it as a leave-in conditioner

1. Measure 1tbsp of coconut oil in a small bowl, and melt in a microwave.

2. After you wash your hair with a shampoo, squeeze your hair with a towel or a cloth, to get rid of excess water.

3. Apply the coconut oil on your damp hair.

3. Massage your scalp with it, letting it get to the roots of your hair.

4. Leave your hair to dry and style as you want.

How to use it as a deep conditioner

1. Melt 2 tbsp of coconut oil in a small bowl.

2. Apply it on your hair, starting with the tips and then working your way up. Make sure all of your hair gets this.

3. Massage your scalp with this for about 10 minutes, then cover your hair with a shower cap for 30 minutes to an hour.

4. Wash thoroughly with a shampoo.

How often you should do this

for straight or wavy hair: twice a week

for very coily and kinky hair: once a week

To Get Rid of Dandruff

Even though dandruff does no harm, it sure does annoy people. Dandruff is mostly due to flaky skin and/or bacteria on your scalp, and many people struggle with it. Now, here’s the good news-coconut oil gets rid of dandruff easily. My friend uses it on his hair every day, and he told me that he hasn’t had to deal with dandruff for months, which I find awesome. He personally told me to include his testimony in this article.

The reason why it works is because of its anti fungal and antibacterial properties. It also helps to keep the hair moisturized and hydrated, which would prevent the scalp from drying out. If you have an itchy scalp, fret no more, for coconut oil is here to serve you and cater for your hair:)

How to use it for dandruff

1. Put 1 tbsp in a bowl and get it melted.

2. Carefully apply it on your scalp, and massage for about 15 minutes.

3. Let it sit for about an hour and a half. By leaving it on for some time, the coconut oil would be able to kill the bacteria on your scalp and hydrate it.

4. Wash thoroughly with a shampoo.

How often you should do this

For straight or wavy hair: Daily, for very bad dandruff. Three times a week if it’s not bad.

For very coily and kinky hair: Twice a week for very bad dandruff. Do so once a week if it’s not bad.

For Detangling Purposes

Do you ever get so annoyed when your hair gets tangled? Yeah…pretty much everyone hates it. It just gets in the way of your comb going through smoothly and your hair being as nice as you want it to be. If it tangles very often, you’ve probably said to yourself that you were going to buy some hair detangler from a store, just so that you won’t get so annoyed anymore.

I’m glad to let you know that coconut oil is a perfect detangler. You don’t have to go to some store to get one that probably has some chemicals you wouldn’t like to have on your hair. It’s something you can use right after you take a shower, or whenever you want to style your hair.

How to use it as a detangler

1. Melt 1 teaspoon of coconut oil in a bowl. You can add some more if you have very thick hair, but be careful with the amount. You don’t want it to be too much, since you’re just detangling your hair.

2. Carefully apply it on the tips of your hair and work your way up to the mid-section of your hair.

3. Use a comb to carefully detangle the tips, then gradually move up. You don’t want to start combing from the mid-section of your hair to the tips, because you don’t want to lose a larger portion of hair than required.

4. Keep combing your hair until all the knots are detangled, then style your hair the way you want.

How often you should do this

Every day

As a Pre-dye Treatment

Do you bleach your hair or know someone that does? While you’re making the decision to do this, you might be worried about the damages that would be done to your hair, if you went along with the process. Or maybe you had a very bad experience with bleaching or dyeing your hair and you’re just not sure if you want to go through with it again.

You probably didn’t know this, but coconut oil protects your hair from being damaged when you bleach it. Whenever you use peroxide on your hair, iron and copper are produced, and these cause damage. Fortunately, coconut oil serves as a protective layer and reduces the amount of these harmful elements on your hair. It also helps the dye to be absorbed better, making it even more beautiful:)

How to use it as a pre-dye treatment

1. The day before you dye your hair, get 3 tbsp of coconut oil and melt it in a small bowl.

2. Apply it on your hair, making sure that every part of your hair is covered.

3. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave it in overnight.

4. The next day, bleach or dye your hair with the coconut oil still in it.

How often you should do this

Each time you bleach or dye your hair

Finally,…

I’ve explained just how useful coconut oil is by giving different ways it could be utilized. However, it should be noted that it may not work for all hair types. If you try this but it doesn’t work for you, don’t worry. I’ll do my best to make sure that I cover as many products as I can, just to have that diversity and to enable you all find what works for you. Cheers:)

Thank you for the detailed information on the use of coconut oil. i am interested in trying it on my hair as a treatment for dandruff . I have used anti-dandruff shampoos and creams but i still have not found a permanent solution. I hope this works for me.